Phantom Cruiser

So much negativity..so little time...

The only problems we've experienced with our Focus are the things we did/do to it! We're pretty harsh with the FI and racing...other than that the 'service bulletins' haven't had affected us adversely!

*ponders for a moment*

Have their ever been any perfect cars built that had zero recalls or issues? Hmm...probably not.

Happy Motoring!

ProtegeMaster

It is quite true that nothing's perfect, but the Ford Focus, as previously indicated, has demonstrated reliability much worse than even the average car. This is troublesome (and to me, offensive) for many reasons, but primarily due to time and money. Early on, your time is taken from you because you have to bring the car in all the time for service, and secondly, once the warranty is expired your money is taken from you. This is time and money needlessly lost-- Time and money that, I'd suggest, can be put to better use. If you care not about reliability and all the associated losses, get a reliable car and put the money you'd otherwise spend on repairs for a shabby vehicle towards a charity of your choice. THAT would at least go to a good cause.

Those who care not about reliability are simply throwing time and money away-- Commodities not easily amassed by most normal people. A wasteful, decidedly American Consumer-esque mentality that defies logic and takes away from the overall well being of everyone else. This, while it sounds rather socialistic (not by intention, by the way), is simple reality.

That's why I personally hate unreliable vehicles and will never waste my time and money on them.

I can put the money I save on maintenance toward moding and improving my car...

I can put the money I save on maintenance toward helping the Red Cross...

I can put the money I save on maintenance toward buying an underprivileged kid a Christmas/holiday present...

I can put the money I save on maintenance toward a better stereo system...

Etc., etc., etc....

Investing in a reliable car presents an intelligent, responsible, forward thinking choice that potentially contributes to your own and everyone else's well being. It's pure common sense, that's all I'm saying.

Protege, despite many things that I dislike about it, remains overall a superbly reliable vehicle that delivers intelligence AND sportiness in transportation; simultaneously.

And, incidentally, this certainly isn't meant as a personal attack! It's just that reliability is my absolute strongest pet peeve and I get pissed about companies that deliver flagrant poor quality. It rips ALL of us off and I find that both distasteful and patronizing.

Phantom Cruiser

I've experienced nothing but negativity on this board.

Too bad you guys can't get past the Focus thing. I don't see my two cars fighting it out in the driveway.

Later~

poktrokt

you certainly make valid points. As for reliability issues, I grew up with my dad always tearing into our cars. I learned about cars and what makes them tick. A lot of times, with knowledge passed from one generation to another, you can overcome reliability issues by performing repairs on your own. Our society today is, for the most part, mediocre at best mechanically. People want no concern with the day to day dealings of things that affect their lives and their families. All it takes is a little time and a willingness to experiment just a little to solve many of the problems associated with 99% of the vehicles on the road today. In the 60's if an engine had more than 50K on it, it was time for a rebuild. In the 70's if there was a problem, it was emissions controls. In the 80's feul injection gave headaches. In the 90's and on, the problems that face even an unreliable car (by the standards set fourth by our times) would put to shame the most reliable cars of 15 to 20 years ago. Reliability is relative. My dad complains constantly about GM cars and what crap they are. Had 3 of them, never once was I left stranded. People say fords suck. Had 2 of them, flawless. Had 5 inports, 1 blew a head gasket 200 miles from civilization and the other lost a rear main seal after only 5 years of life. the third served me faithfully. the fourth had hubs replaced three times as well as a new cylinder head, and I'm waiting to see how this one treats me. I know that a lot of recalls are instigated by a few loudmouths that work a bunch of people into a frenzy and make the cars seem like pieces o' crap. There have been several recalls on my mustang, but not once have I had a problem that was associated with any of those recalls. My 02. If you like it, get it. Learn about it if you think it will break. Or, just overpay a mechanic to attempt a shoddy repair job.

Later

Mach 1

Hmmmm..what about the Ford mechanics well being? seems like an unreliable car would contribute to his well being?

multipath

Amen! I don't know about the rest of you, but I sure don't have one of those trees that grow money in my back yard. I can think of a million better things to spend my money (and time) on than a car that always needs repair because the manufacturer couldn't build it right in the first place.

Emerald99ES

Ok guys.. back to the original question.. According to several press accounts, the 3rd-gen Protege/P5 will apparently continue on through the 2004 model year, as it will eventually share a platform with the 2nd-gen Ford Focus and (aargh) Volvo V30/S40/XC50 compacts arriving about the same time. However, the Mazda 3 name is already slated to appear on a Ford Fiesta-based subcompact hatchback shown at the Paris auto show late last year, which means the Protege replacement will probably carry the name Mazda 4 in the US and Europe. As for Canada, if the new midsize sedan is called the 6 there, you will probably also get the 4 name.

Emerald99ES

ES2.0GT

Lol, you should make a flash movie of the two takin it out on eachother on the drive way, that would be hillarious!

multipath

I sure hope so. Though not likely, it would be nice if the '04 kept the same body, but got the new 2.3.

redrims

Hey ReIncarnate, I love your sig. That is from "Billy Madison", right?

BTW, what part of MD you from?